SS 1 LITERATURE-IN-ENGLISH: AFRICAN POETRY I

Core Concepts

African poetry often serves as a mirror to society, reflecting cultural shifts, political struggles, and moral questions. In this unit, we study two seminal Nigerian poems: "Once Upon a Time" by Gabriel Okara and "Not My Business" by Niyi Osundare.

While Okara focuses on the loss of cultural sincerity due to Western influence, Osundare critiques political apathy under oppressive regimes. Together, these poems teach us about the consequences of losing our shared humanity.

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Key Points

1. "Once Upon a Time" – Gabriel Okara

This poem is a monologue from a father to his son, lamenting how adulthood and modern civilization have replaced traditional African warmth and sincerity with hypocrisy.

• Themes:
  • Innocence vs. Experience (Hypocrisy): The poet contrasts the genuine laughter of childhood (and past African society) with the fake, calculated smiles of adulthood.
  • Cultural Alienation: The shift from communal warmth to cold, individualistic Western attitudes.
• Tone:
  • Nostalgic, regretful, and melancholic.
• Poetic Devices:
  • Simile: "laugh with their teeth like ice-block cold eyes" and "wear faces like dresses." These emphasize how people mask their true feelings.
  • Repetition: The phrase "Once upon a time" is repeated to create a fairy-tale-like longing for a lost past.
  • Metaphor: "To feel my empty pockets" represents people searching for what they can exploit from others rather than seeking genuine friendship.

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2. "Not My Business" – Niyi Osundare

Set during a period of military dictatorship in Nigeria, this poem exposes the danger of civic apathy. The narrator indifferent to the violent abduction of his neighbors (Akanni, Danladi, and Chinwe) because it does not affect him directly, until the oppressors finally come for him.

• Themes:
  • Apathy and Indifference: The danger of ignoring the suffering of others as long as one’s personal comfort is secure.
  • Tyranny and Oppression: The ruthless nature of dictatorial power.
  • Retribution (Karma): Silence in the face of injustice eventually backfires on the silent bystander.
• Tone:
  • Detached and self-absorbed in the beginning, transitioning to terrified and urgent at the end.
• Poetic Devices:
  • Repetition (Refrain): "What business of mine is it / So long as they don’t take the yam / Out of my mouth?" highlights the narrator's selfish focus on basic survival.
  • Metaphor: "Yam" symbolizes basic sustenance, livelihood, and personal comfort.
  • Imagery: Vivid, violent imagery such as "beat him soft like clay" and "stuffed him down the belly of a waiting jeep" conveys the brutality of the regime.

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Summary

Both Gabriel Okara and Niyi Osundare warn against the erosion of human values. "Once Upon a Time" warns against the loss of interpersonal sincerity and cultural identity, showing how modern society forces individuals to wear "masks." On the other hand, "Not My Business" warns against political indifference, proving that when we fail to defend the rights of others, we ultimately pave the way for our own destruction.